THANK YOU LORD

        "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  This is a powerful and important command.  But let's be honest, how often do we obey and claim this truth, especially when difficult events unfold in our lives?  I must admit that I have often had trouble doing so when I have been hit with troubling situations.  Did I thank the Lord when my mother died in an auto accident?  Did I thank Him when my brother died of cancer?  Did I thank Him when my wife needed heart surgery?  Did I thank Him when my cancer grew worse?  I must admit that I probably didn't at the times those things happened.  But later on, as I grew in the Lord and learned more about the will of God in my life, I was able to thank Him for taking me through these trials and teaching me important lessons.  I am often reminded of Romans 8:28 where we are told that ALL things work together for good for God's children.  Dan Burgess must have learned similar lessons which led him to write the words of this week's worship song.  "I thank You Lord for the trials that come my way, in that way I can grow each day as I let You lead."  The Lord has promised never to let us go through trials that are too much for us to bear.  And He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  He is the same God that was with the thee young men in the fiery furnace and with Daniel in the Den of Lions.  "But it goes against the way I am to put my human nature down and let the spirit take control of all I do, cause when those trials come my human nature shouts the things to do and God's soft prompting can be easily ignored."   And if you are like me, this is so often true.  But God has so much yet to teach us and going through these trials is one way to learn these vital lessons.  So we do need to  learn to thank Him for being with us and helping us to grow in Him as we experience these trials.  Lord, thank you for the trials that bring me closer to you.  Thank you for your presence in these times and for the guidance, strength, peace and comfort that you provide.

I thank You Lord

for the trials that come my way

in that way I can grow each day

as I let You lead

and I thank you Lord

for the patience those trials bring

in the process of growing

I can learn to care

But it goes against the way I am

to put my human nature down

and let the spirit

take control of all I do

cause when those trials come my

human nature shouts the things to do

and God's soft prompting

can be easily ignored

I thank you lord with

each trial I feel inside

that you're there to help lead

and guide me away from wrong

Cause you promised Lord

that with ev'ry testing

that your way of escaping

is easier to bear

But it goes against the way I am

to put my human nature down

and let the spirit

take control of all I do

cause when those trials come my

human nature shouts the things to do

and God's soft prompting

can be easily ignored

I thank you Lord for the

vict'ry that growing brings

in surrender of ev'rything

life is so worthwhile

and I thank you Lord that

when ev'rthing's put in place

out in front I can see your

face and it's there you belong

Listen to it here.      TRIALS

Dan Burgess had a special meeting with Cynthia Clawson and Brian Mann who discussed and performed this number.  You can listen to this special event here.   BURGESS